Halloween 2011

I've had my share of complaints about the Trader Joe's here in Summerlin. They are always out of stock of what I want, and not to mention unfriendly and unhelpful, unlike my neighborhood TJs in Pasadena where everyone knew me and the kids and always said hi and even knew my buying habits.

 In their defense, I'd been shopping at that one for over 15 years, so maybe I'll get there someday with the TJs here. I also got very spoiled by the fact that my TJs in Pasadena was 3 blocks away...and this one is a 15 minute drive. And yes, for all you folks who are thinking it, I am extremely grateful to even have a TJs in my town. :)

That being said, I was pleasantly surprised to find out the TJs here was doing a pumpkin carving event for free. We showed up Saturday morning to find hundreds of pumpkins had already been gutted by teens from one of the local high schools--all the kids had do was carve it. Awesome.

There was a line, but it moved quickly and the kids got to have all the fun of carving pumpkins--without me having to clean it all up afterward. A win-win, I say.

They even had a picture area. Helene was clearly not in the mood for pics.

 Face painting too!!

Hannah's Kindergarten class had a field trip to a local pumpkin patch. I love all the activities this school does (more on that in forthcoming posts) compared when Sammy was in school in Pasadena. Poor Sammy had one field trip in Kindergarten...and that was to Kidspace (which we had already been to many many times). And they only did a Costume Parade for Halloween....and no party.

The group of girls I was chaperoning.

Each child got to choose and take home a pumpkin. This was Hannah's.

Maze!

Hannah and me on a hayride.

Halloween picnic at school.

This is one of Sammy's classmates and I just had to take a picture. Yep, that's a boy dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. Wig and all. Love it!

Hannah doing a little Halloween craft in class.

Hannah and her friend Abby. Love the crazy eyes.

This is the only picture I have of Halloween night. Helene refused to dress up. They still had a great time and got lots of candy. We had so many Trick or Treat-ers, we actually ran out of candy and I had to raid the kids' stash for more candy to hand out.

Happy Halloween!

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's Cookbook

I'll be the first to admit that I am feeling a little lazy tonight and don't feel like blogging...so thanks to my friend Nicole for sending me this link.

Just in time for today's Trader Joe's Tuesday!

I am intrigued, but not enough fork over that much $$ to buy it. Maybe I'll find it on Ebay soon.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Channa Masala

I know I've been spotlighting Indian food a lot lately, but what can I say? Trader Joe's gets me every time with their samples.

The Channa Masala is similar in flavor to the Butter Chicken, but I liked this one even more because it's meatless. It's just garbanzo beans (chickpeas) with some tomatoes and onions and spices, but it's delicious!! I put it over a big bowl of brown rice and it was definitely a satisfying meal. Would be perfect with some warmed naan. Mmmmmmmm....

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Lemon Tartes

I totally heart these!! Similar to last week's post, these Lemon Tartes are complete bliss for any lemon fan.

Like the Pecan Pie Tartes, these are also found in the freezer section and taste just as fresh as if they were made that day. The crust is quite buttery and flaky and the filling is perfectly tart (no pun intended).

I am surprised about how generous the portion is and had a quick panic attack when I noticed the sliver taken from tarte on the carton. I thought that maybe they were expecting you to share the tarte and make 4 servings from the carton. But yay--one whole yummy tarte is a serving, so indulge away. It's only 13 grams of fat. Pretty good for buttery-lemon goodness.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Pecan Pie Tartes

Another new discovery at Trader Joe's. It's a dessert. Big surprise, I know.

I actually bought these for Samuel to try since he loves pecan pie, but I don't buy it too often because I won't eat it (yes, it IS soooo yummy, but oh so fattening!). So the only time I will get one is at Thanksgiving or when it's "$5.99 for any pie" month at Marie Callender's, then we both indulge: pecan pie for Sam and coconut cream for me. But I digress...

These are really cute and tasty little tartes--the perfect single serving size (i.e. fairly large portion). The best thing about them is how fresh they taste! These are found in the frozen section and you just thaw them for 30-60 minutes at room temperature, but seriously you would never know they were frozen. The crust is really moist and the pecan filling is fresh tasting and just plain yummy.

Samuel told me that I should blog about these because of how good they were and that I should name the post "Desserts to feed your husband that will make him happy". So there you go. That's pretty high praise coming from him.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Mini Cafe Twists

I know, I've been a blog slacker. Not too much going on besides the norm...which I guess I could blog about, but I'm lazy.

Today's item is another sweet treat (you'd never guess that I needed to lose 20 pounds of baby weight by all the sweets I am spotlighting...)


These Mini Cafe Twists are so light and airy (and yummy)--you can easily eat several of these without guilt. Fortunately, the serving size is 4 twists, and they are non-dairy, no eggs, no yeast and low sodium. Good thing because I ate about 3 servings in 10 minutes. Seriously, what are these made of? Apparently, wheat flour (see--healthy!), oil, sugar, cinnamon, salt. Seems pretty simple, but I really like them!

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough

I love Snickerdoodle cookies, but it's hard to find a good one at most bakeries and for some reason, I never make them. Probably because no one else in my family will eat them. And the last thing I need is an entire batch of cookies around the house for me to eat.

These are new at Trader Joe's in the freezer section and I just had to try them to see how good they actually were. They didn't disappoint. They baked up light, thin and chewy with just the right flavor.

Totally perfect.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice

Jean, I totally thought of you when I tried this one!

This was yet another item they were sampling last week. I'm telling you, I discover more yummy items at Trader Joe's by trying their samples!

The sauce the chicken is in is delish and I just love the texture of the basmati rice. I mixed it all together in a bowl and it was so good. There is something about the spices used in Indian cooking...they are so flavorful. My only complaint is that it is pretty much a one serving dish, so if you plan on sharing--you're going to need to buy two packages.

*Sorry so short...grouchy baby tonight. But seriously, try this--it was so good!

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Chicken Enchiladas in Red Sauce

I'm back!! I have discovered several new items at Trader Joe's and am finally back to blogging!

I recently found this ready made Chicken Enchiladas in Red Sauce located in the refrigerated section. I usually don't buy the ready made items because they are usually totally overpriced, but one night a few weeks ago, Samuel wanted enchiladas and I really didn't feel like making them, so I went to Trader Joe's in search of some ready made ones. (How is that for a run-on sentence?)

Sam really likes enchiladas in red sauce (and I always make them with green sauce), so I thought these would be perfect for him. I was right! Even I really liked them--the sauce is delicious! If they sold it in a can or jar, I would totally use it for my enchiladas.

They use corn tortillas (which I prefer to use as well for my enchiladas) and all white meat chicken for the filling (I hate dark meat), so it was totally up to my standards--and did I mention how awesome the sauce is?? It's topped off with cheddar cheese and black olives. Perfect. I make my own spanish/mexican rice and beans to go with it because Sam must have rice and beans with any Mexican food we make. If you need a good spanish/mexican rice recipe, email me!

There are 4 in a container and for $4.99, I think it's a great deal! It takes just 15 minutes in the oven and is ready to go. Perfect for one of those nights you don't want to cook!

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Turkey Chili

So back in the day, Trader Joe's had this AMAZING black bean (vegetarian) chili. It was so good.

The Best.

I loved to eat it with some shredded cheddar cheese when it was cold out, and it was the best chili to make chili cheese dip with. AND it was only 99 cents. Such a bargain. Then one sad sad day, it was gone. And when I asked about it, I was told that it had been discontinued due to low demand. Apparently I didn't eat enough of it. So so sad. I HATE when TJ's discontinues things that I absolutely love. I have a list...don't get me started.

Anyway, I recently discovered their Turkey Chili. I'm usually not a fan of turkey chili AT ALL because I hate the meaty taste in chili, but this doesn't have a heavy meaty taste at all and while there are no black beans, I really like the beans, spices and chilies that are in it. And it totally works for the chili cheese dip...yummmmm. It also is really good to make nachos with.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Whole Grain Chocolatey-Filled Cereal Bites

I actually have Lyndsey to thank for this one. She mentioned it on her blog last week and I just had to try it out! (And I also stole her picture since I can't find my camera and am too lazy to look for it.)

They didn't disappoint! Rich chocolate with just a hint of hazlenut (very Nutella-y) and a crispy wheat crust. Sounds kind of weird--tastes awesome!

I think I like them better straight out of the box than with milk, but that is just me. Oh, and don't look at the fat content. Or the grams of sugar. Just tell yourself it has 3 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein to make up for it.

I let Hannah try one and she walked away eating it and promptly came back and said "more candy, please." Ummmm, yeah. It's that good.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Vegetable Samosas

I have featured Trader Joe's Indian food before and here is another Indian favorite: Vegetable Samosas. These are a yummy appetizer or snack--or I guess you could eat them all and make a meal of it. Samosas are a stuffed pastry filled with vegetables and in this case potatoes, carrots, peas, lentils and onions. The shell reminds me more of a egg roll than a pastry puff. This one has a little bit of a spicy kick to it which I really like. It's not too spicy, but I wanted to mention it for those who can't handle any spicyness at all.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Banana Waffles

Oh, how I love these!! I am not a fan of Eggo waffles---or really any frozen waffles for that matter, but I think these are so good. Maybe it's because they are banana flavor and I pretty much will eat anything banana-y.

I just introduced them to Hannah a few weeks ago and now I have her hooked as well. It's a nice change from my morning bowl of cereal and the hint of banana really makes all the difference.

No Trader Joe's Tuesday today...

Poor Sammy has been sick all day with a fever and throwing up. Poor guy. I can't decide if it's what Hannah had on Friday or if her vomiting incident was just random. She didn't have a fever and she seemed fine afterwards.

Sammy has had a fever pretty much all day and has complained of stomach pain all day as well. Plus, the vomiting. Fun times.

So, no, there is no Trader Joe's Tuesday for today because I totally forgot with everything else going on. Although I did make it to the mall for a brief outing today and had a Cinnabon cinnamon roll for the first time in ages.

SO. GOOD.

So, my suggestion is to have one of those for Trader Joe's Tuesday. I seriously want to go back tomorrow for another. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Pure Butter Shortbread

I picked these up a few days ago while waiting in the checkout line at Trader Joe's . They had them displayed right next to me and I just couldn't resist! They certainly didn't disappoint.

The shape reminded me of a teething biscuit, but it's the perfect texture for a shortbread cookie--and I love how thick it is. I discovered that they are even more yummy when you eat it with some Dove Chocolate. The perfect mix--kind of like a LU Biscuit, but waaaaaay better.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Blue Cheese Roasted Pecan Dip

This is one of my favorite appetizer items at Trader Joe's. It is one of those things that I wouldn't normally buy because I am the only one who will eat this in my house. I decided to give in since it was the holidays...and I've been wanting to feature it for a while.

Obviously you have to like Blue Cheese to like this, but it's surprisingly NOT overpowering (it's blended with cream cheese and sour cream, so it's not all blue cheese) and is so yummy with some bland crackers (like water crackers or TJs Multigrain Rounds) and grapes.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Pastry Bites with Feta Cheese & Carmelized Onions

I didn't forget that it was Tuesday! I was at Trader Joe's this morning and used my the camera on my phone to take this picture.

These are sooooo divine and would probably be pretty easy to make if I wasn't such a bad cook and a wee bit lazy. They smell so good while cooking, it would be worth it to buy them just for the smell. My only complaint about these are that you only get 12 pieces for $4.99. A little pricey in my opinion, plus 12...come on...I could eat all 12 by myself! (In my defense, they are bite-sized). They would be worth the price if there were 24 pieces instead. Still if you need a quick appetizer or just craving a pastry puff, check these out.

Or at least be sure to have one when they offer them as a sample. And then maybe circle the store once or twice and get another sample. I'm just suggesting...

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Holiday Favorites

I'm back! With all the yummy Christmas treats that Trader Joe's only carrries during the holidays, I am going to list just a few items that I love.


Dark Chocolate Star Cookies with Sprinkles This is a new favorite--I actually just discovered them today. I'm usually not a fan of dark chocolate, but these are oh-so-yummy. Hannah ate 4 of them in no time...me too.


Mini Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti I don't drink coffee, but these are good enough to eat straight out of the box without any beverage dipping needed. Careful, they are small in size and you will eat the entire box before you know it. Really.

Mixed Berry Tarte Another yummy discovery from today. I just love to go to potlucks where people bring in new Trader Joe's food--it is so much fun and always tasty. This tarte has a soft buttery almond crust with a sweet berry flavor. Reminds me of the Knotts Raspbery Shortbread cookies, but at least 20 times better. (no picture because they were all out of them when I went tonight)

Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Joe-Joes Enough said.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

These are so fabulous when you are just craving a few cookies hot from the oven, but don't want to make a full batch. Mainly, because you would eat the entire batch...at least I would.

This cookie dough puts all the other brands to shame--I can't even eat Nestle Toll House or Pillsbury brand cookie dough cookies now that I have had these. They totally have a homemade taste and are so soft and gooey (I like to underbake them just a tad).

My only complaint is that they should come in a box of 24, not 16--16 doesn't seem to last very long. You can find these in the freezer section and go right from freezer to oven, no thawing needed.

Trader Joe's Tuesday: Wheat Crisps Baked Wheat Crackers

While these aren't the most exciting TJ's item I have blogged about--I love these! Yes, they are basically Wheat Thins, but I think they have a crisper texture and better taste...AND are only $1.69 a box.

Also, they have no preservatives and are "reduced guilt" so they are less fattening than Wheat Thins. Check them out!